Documentary on Oasis ahead of their two Dublin concerts
TV WEEK (Wednesday 13th to Tuesday19th)
TOP SPECIALS
Amsterdam Narcos (Sky Documentaries, Wednesday 13th, 9pm)
From the 1970s to the early 2000s, the Dutch city of Amsterdam transformed from a liberal counter-cultural haven into the drugs capital of Europe. A tolerance of the hash trade opened the floodgates to organised crime, leaving the police playing catch-up as the Dutch underworld exploded and the drugs trade spiralled out of control.
Breaking Out (RTÉ 1, Wednesday 13th, 10.35pm)
Fergus O’Farrell was the charismatic voice of Interference, one of the most compelling and influential bands to emerge from the Irish music scene in the 1990s. Although diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at a young age, he did not define himself by his condition. The film follows him from Dublin to the Czech Republic, to Radio City Music Hall and home to West Cork to record his final album.
Gold Digger: The Search For Australian Rugby (TG4, Friday 15th, 7.15pm)
At the turn of the 21st century, rugby union in Australia was at its peak – the Wallabies were world champions, had a winning streak over the All Blacks, and saw off the touring British and Irish Lions. However in a few short years, the world beaters would become easy prey as rugby became one of the lowest participation sports in the country.
The Hills Are Alive – A Year At Kylemore Abbey (RTÉ 1, Sunday 17th, 6.30pm)
Kylemore Abbey is the jewel of Connemara – a lakeside Gothic castle set in a beautiful landscape. Once the family home of a wealthy Victorian MP, it was transformed over the last 100 years into a Benedictine Abbey. Facing rising bills and falling vocations, the nuns embrace tourism and ecology, alongside their religious life, in their efforts to secure the future of their community.
WATCH OF THE WEEK
We Were The Lucky Ones (RTÉ 2, Thursday 14th, 10.35pm)
Drama series based on the novel of the same name, which tells the story of a Jewish clan’s survival during World War II. As Hitler’s persecution of European Jewry intensifies, the family are split apart, scattered from Poland to the Soviet Union, Italy, and Brazil in a desperate quest for survival. The series follows the family, trying to avoid the Third Reich’s final solution, scattered across the globe, as they navigate the horrors of war.
BEST FILMS
Locke (Film4, Thursday 14th, 12.15am)
The man who may well be the next James Bond – Tom Hardy – plays an individual whose life unravels after he leaves a construction site at a critical time and drives to London to be present for the birth of a child conceived during a one-night stand. Set entirely inside a car on the road as he takes and makes phone calls, Hardy provides a riveting performance.
Heart Eyes (Sky Cinema Premiere, from Thursday)
A masked maniac with glowing, red eyes returns every Valentine’s Day to slaughter unsuspecting couples. When a cynical ad executive and her hopelessly romantic colleague become the next target, they decide to fight back and end the reign of terror.
Tenet (BBC 1, Friday 15th, 11.10pm)
Before he won Oscars with Oppenheimer, director Christopher Nolan did a neat turn in mind-bending drama. Armed with only the word ‘Tenet’, and fighting for the survival of the entire world, a CIA operative named only The Protagonist journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a global mission that unfolds beyond real time to try prevent WWIII.
Saturday Night (Sky Cinema Premiere, from Friday)
At 11.30pm on October 11, 1975, a troupe of young comedians and writers changed television, and culture, forever. This is based on the true story of what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live, the beginning of new humour and chaos in the magic of a revolution that almost wasn’t.
CLASSIC MOVIE
Oasis: Supersonic (RTÉ 2, Friday 15th, 9.35pm)
A day ahead of their two Dublin concerts, this documentary on the iconic band is a timely reminder of why two brothers who spend so much time fighting each other are so universally loved and adored. Never-before-seen concert footage intertwines with candid interviews on the sibling rivalry that once threatened to destroy the band.
KIDS STUFF
Football Families (RTÉ 1, Thursday 14th, 10.10pm)
As the 2024 season comes to an end, tough decisions are made about who is retained and who is released from the academy squads. Players fight to keep their spot and progress through the ranks to be scouted or signed – all of them teenagers who want to make the big step up in the dog-eat-dog world of professional football.
Squad Goals (RTÉ Player)
Anna Geary challenges squads from Cork, Louth and Cavan to complete all four zones. Which Squad has what it takes to conquer the ultimate final challenge, ‘The Gauntlet’, and be crowned Top Squad?
ON DEMAND
In The Mud (Netflix)
While being taken to La Quebrada prison, Gladys Guerra and a group of inmates with no previous history in the world of incarceration experience a critical situation that will bond them forever. As survivors, they face life ‘on the inside’ by fighting against the adversity of the regime and the challenge of the different ‘tribes’ that control the daily life of the prison.
Outlander: Blood Of My Blood (Amazon Prime)
A prequel to the hugely popular Outlander series – a romantic saga that unfolds across time as it focuses on the love stories of Jamie and Claire’s parents, interweaving the two romances, one unfolding in 18th century Scotland and the other during World War I in England.
Alien: Earth (Disney+)
Though it’s been many years since that pesky alien popped out of John Hurt’s tummy, this re-make of the famous Alien movies looks to update the thrills. When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a ragtag group of tactical soldiers led by a resourceful woman make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat.
Night Always Comes (Netflix)
Based on the best selling novel by Willy Vlautin, Night Always Comes follows Lynette, a woman who risks everything to secure the house that represents a future for her family. On a dangerous odyssey through a single night, Lynette is forced to confront her dark past in order to finally break free.
SPORTS CENTRE
UEFA Super Cup Live (RTÉ 2, Wednesday 13th, 7.30pm)
Football is back on the agenda everywhere this week. First up Marie Crowe presents live coverage of PSG v Tottenham Hotspur from Stadio Friuli, Udine, Italy. KO 8pm.
Liverpool v The Cherries in Premier League 25/26 (Sky Sports, Friday 16th, 6.30pm)
A new season is here and the bar has never been higher. Liverpool return as Premier League champions, fresh off a dominant campaign when they lifted the trophy for a record-equalling 20th time. The new season kicks off with Friday Night Football, pitting the champions against Andoni Iraloa’s ever-dangerous Bournemouth.